The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1887-05-05
The Absurdny of It.

If anything could more forcibly illustrate
the absurdity Of the interstate commerce
bill than another, it is furnished in the fol-
lowing figures relating to the management
of the Pennsylvania Railroad Company.
There are other railway systems rivall: G
this one, and in view of the figures below
given. the utter stupidity of few third
rate politicians undertaking to formulate
rules and regulations for their management
is apparentto every intelligent mind. Let
the reader take in the fl cures furnished
and the comprehensive business they in
volve, and then consider the reasonableness
of a gathering OF politicians deciding upon
a policy to control the interests they rep
resent. The statement is taken from the
Washington correspondence Of the Cincin-
natl Commercial Gazette:
The number of miles of road controlled by the
company east of Pittsburg is Isl west of Pitts
| burg $3.50, a total of 7,4Ot The total number of
miles Of track, including double tracks, sidines
&C., is IL ,250 The total miles of rail owned by
the company being 22,500, would nearly reach
around the earth.
The company owns 1865 locomotives east of
Pittsburg, and 9O2 west, a total of 1857. These
engines placed in astraight line would reach
26I miles, or from Jersey City to q point be-
tween Metuchen and Stefton.
The company owns 2,515 passenger cars a line
25l9 miles long.
The number of freight cars is 1927 east of
straight line they would reach 54I miles, or if
one end was In Jersey City the other end would
be at Canton, Ohio.
The maintenance of way cars number g61 n
line 3-5 miles long.
The hand-cars and hand-trucks number ,72s.
a line AZ miles long, and the rs sleeping cars
would reach miles.
The total number of everything rolling on
wheels belonging to the company IS S. SO east
of Pittsburg, and 49, 1856 west total of l0l, lG5
These would reach on straight track sos
miles, or II one end was at Jersey City the other
! miles west of Pittsburg.
The average cost of a locomotive is IS 100. a
total value OF $l3, 500.
lines of the company 249 trains, made up OF O33
cars. an average of four and one tenth cars per
train. Of these 164 passenger trains are east of
Plttsburg. and IS on lines west.
At the same moment there would be owing
on lines east of Fittsburg 287 freight TRAINS COM
tanning 9.27s cars, and lines west of Pittsburg
2l3 trains, containing 1875 cars. This gives
total number Of freight trains ad moving at any
OF twentyseven and eight-tenJhs cars per
train.
arrive and depart daily. with $50 cars
At the Broad Street station Philadelphia, 39l
passenger trains arrive and depart daily, with
1,e73 cars.
OF these 81 trains with 406 cars, pass over the
Philadelphia division SO trains, with sos cars.
oyer the New York division; 50 trains. with AS
cars, over the Maryland division: 81 trains,
with 238 cars, over the Chestnut Hill branch
20 trains, with i73 cars, over the Central d1vi-
slon
The company employs from President down
a total OF 1880 employees. The average catly
Payroll Is S6S 1873 % and last year the total pay
roll was 1921, 1892. 1854.
There are $4,000 people. men, women, and
children, directly or Indirectly dependent upon
the company for living.
Last year the company carried 5.363 tons of
freight an hour, 1871 tons day, and total
in the year of 46, 1913, 5S7 tons.
The total number of passengers carried last
year was 40,67,3 l3 an average per day of IL HIS
and per hour of 4,6I4.
The company took into and out of Jersey CITY
last year {, ss6. 3l9, daily average of 1f.e2O.
From 1864 to 1856, inclusive, the Pennsy lvania
Company carried 2S2. 1873 900 passengers,
This stupendous organization has grown up
surely and rapidly from the very humbiest be-
ginnings. and is a magnificent evidence of the
power of human genius.
The National Governmental system is an in
competent and wabbly affair, compared with
the system OF management and government of
such a vast and intricate organization, and
there civil service y can be seen in its perfec-
ton.